Paper 2 Section B/A: Norman England, c1066–c1100

June 2023

Q1: How convincing is Interpretation A about the legal system under the Normans?

Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretation A.

Answer:

For example, the interpretation is convincing because the Anglo-Saxon system worked and symbolised continuity but the Normans did modernise some Anglo- Saxon practices. Mainly the Normans used the law to keep control of what they had conquered. They changed the way land is inherited because under the Anglo-Saxons it was common to divide up land amongst families. As the Normans wanted to keep estates intact and therefore continue to control an area after a death, the Normans introduced the idea of primogeniture by which the eldest son inherited the land or titles from his father. The Normans also increased their control and protected themselves by introducing murdrum fines to stop Anglo-Saxons killing Norman knights and earls. more than one aspect of the interpretation. For example, the interpretation is convincing because much Anglo-Saxon law worked and the Normans wanted to be seen as respecting the old ways and to reinforce the idea that the Normans were legitimate rulers. But there were new laws, for example as they liked hunting and most of England was forested, the Normans introduced the Forest laws. The Normans created more forest areas like the New Forest. Previously poor people would enrich their diet by poaching. These laws were meant to stop this. Punishments if peasants were caught hunting were severe, you could be blinded. For example, it is true that the Normans continued to use ordeals such as ordeal by fire where you had to hold a red-hot iron bar and if the burn healed you were innocent. There was ordeal by water where if you drowned you were innocent and if you floated you were guilty. Answers may show understanding/support for interpretation, but the case is For example, the Normans introduced ordeal by combat where you had to prove that you were innocent by fighting.

Q2: Explain what was important about towns in Norman England.

Answer:

the consequences of the stated development (the revolts and rebellions against Norman rule) in the broader historical context (Norman England). This For example, what was important about the towns was that with the growth of towns the townsfolk grew in number and were led by burgesses. Lincoln, for example, had 970 burgesses. These were the merchants and craftsmen who made a living from business. They set up guilds to ensure high standards of work and protect their livelihood and reputation. Citizens had legal protections and freedom of movement unlike villeins. So, a social hierarchy started in towns, with merchants and lawyers at the top and craftsmen in the middle. Towns under the Normans became more of a different social and economic unit compared with Anglo-Saxon villages. For example, what was important about the towns was the King encouraged markets and fairs by granting permission. William gave out around 2800 grants. Trade increased because the Normans had even stronger links than the Anglo-Saxons with mainland Europe. So, for example, the wool trade made coastal towns centres of international trade e.g., Boston, London and For example, what was important was that between 1066 and 1100, 21 new towns were built around England. The Normans encouraged town growth by building new cathedrals such as Durham or Ely, and they knocked down buildings to erect castles in the centre of town. This attracted people and made the towns more peaceful. the identified consequences, supporting by factual knowledge and For example, towns grew and there were more of them under the Normans because trade increased. Towns grew around cathedrals and the Normans built castles in towns. Towns grew because of the wool trade. For example, towns got bigger and there were more of them.

Q3: Write an account of how the English Church was affected by the Normans.

Answer:

reasoning supported by a range of accurate and detailed factual knowledge and understanding. For example, an explanation of different impacts/ consequences of change in the broader historical context. For example, the relationship between the King and the church was affected because the relationship changed. William I sent wealth of the English church back to Normandy as a reward for their prayers and support during the Conquest but also spent large amounts of money rebuilding the Cathedrals of England after the Conquest. Later Norman Kings clashed with the church over who had more power. The superiority of church or state was an issue in the Investiture controversy and the Norman kings expected newly appointed bishops to pay homage to them. Archbishop Anselm refused this in 1103 and was exiled. The threat of excommunication forced the king to agree in 1107 but Norman kings were determined to keep the national church under their control and not subject to external Papal control. For example, the English church was affected by the Conquest because of the power and wealth of the church. English church leadership was affected by the king. William II fell out with the church in Rome and the Pope over the appointment of bishops. When Lanfranc, the Archbishop of Canterbury, died in 1089, William II did not replace him. He wanted the income for the church lands. But after a serious illness, he relented and appointed Anselm, a pupil of Lanfranc, in 1093. The king had a turbulent relationship with him until 1097, when he exiled him. They disagreed over the return and use of income from Church lands, the king’s behaviour, and the appointment of bishops to vacant simple understanding of consequence(s) with supported with factual For example, the Norman kings took a lot of money out the English church and sent it back to Normandy. William I and William II used the English Church as a way to reward loyal followers. This brought the king into disagreement with the Church led by the Pope in Rome. But the English church was reformed as Lanfranc tried to stop pluralism, nepotism and simony. For example, William the Conqueror was religious and the Pope supported his claim to the throne of England. William brought monks from Normandy to run abbeys in England. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The main consequence of the Norman Conquest in Yorkshire was the devastation of

the countryside.’ How far does a study of Yorkshire after the Norman Conquest support this statement? Explain your answer. You should refer to Yorkshire after the Norman Conquest and your contextual knowledge. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the CopyrightTeam.

Answer:

To support their answer students could include aspects of the site such as: location, function, structure, design, people connected with the site, how the site reflects culture, values and fashions of the time and how the site links to important events and/or developments of the specified period. understanding of the site. For example, the main consequence of the Norman Conquest in Yorkshire was to secure what had been taken in England. After 1066 it was by no means secure and local resistance had not been completely removed. Norman control of England might be threatened in the south-west around Exeter with support from rebels in Ireland. In the North there was a threat from Scotland, and Denmark and the local loyalties to the Earls of Northumbria. William used the building of castles, and the Harrying of the population of Yorkshire to secure the northern border. He created a wasteland of no use to rebels or invaders by the harrying and the devastation of the countryside. He placed loyal followers, like FitzOsbern in charge in York with a supporting network of middle ranking nobility. He enlisted the authority of the church by building abbeys and York Minster and tried to gain the endorsement of the tradition of the former Roman Empire by building within the old Roman settlement of York. Answers may suggest that one factor has greater merit. For example, the main consequence of the Norman conquest in Yorkshire was to secure the North. The city of York lay on a crossing point of the River Ouse and one of the main routes north on the East Coast to Doncaster and Thirsk. There was further resistance from the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy in the years just after the Conquest. The Scottish nobility encouraged by Malcolm, the Scottish king, could join in as well with the Earls of Northumbria and the Danes. In 1068 Gospatric led a rebellion against William, after its defeat, William realised he had had to deal with three rebellions in 18 months and this led to the Harrying of the North. For example, in Yorkshire the result of the Conquest was that William prevented further rebellion and threat to his control. He built castles and destroyed the ability of the area to support rebellion against him in the North and denying the resources of the North to any invader. Large areas of Yorkshire countryside were devastated and remained so for nearly 20 years as the Domesday book recorded. Other areas that had been subdued in 1068 had recovered their fertility by that time. The destruction of large parts of the city of York was needed to build castles on. consequence(s) by simple reasoning supported with factual knowledge and understanding of the site. For example, William was determined to prevent any further rebellion in the north because he had insecure borders with Wales and Scotland and had to worry about the threat of invasion from Denmark in the north and east. When William marched north in 1068 he took the city, and built and garrisoned a castle. He built a second castle on the opposite bank of the river Ouse. For example, Yorkshire was badly affected by the Harrying of the North during the winter of 1069–1070. William’s soldiers killed and starved people in the North leaving much of the land waste.